Contents
Save the Date - CSNSW AI Symposium (Ref: 53/24)
CSNSW invites all to save the date for the upcoming CSNSW AI Symposium. The theme for the Symposium is: Risks, Rewards and Opportunities.
The Symposium will be held on Friday, 31 May 2024, at the Swissôtel Sydney, 68 Market St, Sydney.
More details to come.
Reminder: NESA “Have Your Say” Period on NSW Curriculum Reform??????? (Ref: 40/24)
School leaders and teachers of these syllabuses are encouraged to contribute their expertise to the development of these syllabuses via the “Have Your Say” surveys, which closes on Monday 11 March.
The surveys can be accessed via the Syllabus Consultations page on the NESA website.
Further information can be obtained from Joanne Hack: joanne.hack@csnsw.catholic.edu.au
Last Chance to Register: Connected Catholic Communities – Belonging and Flourishing | 2024 Symposium (Ref: 012/24)
How might we transform our work and the services we provide to our students, families and staff to ensure vibrant and flourishing Catholic school communities?
This is the question being explored when a diverse cross-section of the Catholic education community gathers for the 2024 Catholic Schools NSW Connected Catholic Communities Symposium & Masterclass on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 March in Sydney.
Will you be there?
REGISTER TODAY HERE.
Find the agenda HERE.
Catholic Schools NSW has embarked upon this bold initiative to respond, in part, to the outcomes of the Australian Plenary Council which called on those responsible for Catholic education, including parents and parishes, to identify and respond to the diverse needs and distinct circumstances of Catholic schools in Australia today.
As the demands and pressures of contemporary life increase, we know our schools are often called upon to do and to be more to respond to an array of complex family needs.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Similar to the highly successful inaugural Symposium held in November 2022, we are again bringing together stakeholders from a range of education settings, including early childhood services, schools and universities, along with other ministries of the Church, such as parishes, social services and health to explore the possibilities of enhanced school-community partnerships.
WHAT’S THE IMPERATIVE FOR THIS WORK?
The CSNSW Connected Catholic Communities initiative responds to Plenary Council Decree 3 which calls on those responsible for Catholic education to: “identify and respond to the needs of the diverse and distinct circumstances of Catholic schools in Australia” by building partnerships which enhance the vision of Catholic education as an instrument of evangelisation and an essential dimension of the contemporary mission of the Church.
The recommendations of the Expert Panel of the recent Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System also provides further impetus for this work, calling for “steps to embed and strengthen linkages between schools and other services, such as community, family, health (including speech and occupational therapists), and disability support services”.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
The keynote speaker and Masterclass facilitator will be international researcher and practitioner Dr Anne T Henderson, who will be focussing on the theme of Belonging.
We will also be launching the CSNSW Discussion Paper: “Reimagining Services and Work in Schools: Transformational opportunities for the community, students, and workforce”.
Registrations Closing Soon – Limited Tickets Available: 2024 Catholic Schools NSW CSSA Symposium – 'Writing across the curriculum in Stage 4 and 5’ (023/24)
Catholic Schools New South Wales CSSA Symposium – ‘Writing across the curriculum in Stage 4 and 5’
The Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) CSSA Symposium – ‘Writing across the curriculum in Stage 4 and 5’ will be held on Monday 18 March 2024 at The Amora Hotel, Jamison Sydney. CSNSW invites Diocesan Representatives, Principals, School Leadership, Key Learning Area Coordinators, Stage 4–5 Year Coordinators and teachers in Catholic education to join us at the CSNSW CSSA Symposium – ‘Writing across the curriculum’.
The Teaching Writing: Report of the Thematic Review of Writing (NESA 2018) highlighted the ability to write is critical to educational success. In response the reformed NSW syllabuses have a strengthened focus on the teaching of writing.
In support of the NESA curriculum reform, this CSSA Symposium will explore the theme ‘Writing across the curriculum in Stage 4 and 5’ and reflects our shared commitment to engaging in current and emerging issues in secondary education in Catholic schools. The CSSA Symposium event will bring together education and industry leaders to explore how evidence-based practices in writing can be implemented in a secondary education context. The CSSA Symposium program will engage participants to reflect upon how they can embrace change and optimise learning and engagement within their school and beyond.
Presenters include
- Paul Cahill – Executive Director, Curriculum Reform, NSW Education Standards Authority
- Professor Mary Ryan – Executive Dean of Education & Arts, Australian Catholic University
- Christine Jackson, Principal Researcher/Project Lead, and Annie Fischer, Senior Researcher/Project Lead, Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO)
- Jacqueline Simpson – Education Officer: Assessment and Curriculum K-12, Pre to Post Learning
Presenters of Writing Workshops include
- Christine Jackson, Principal Researcher/Project Lead, and Annie Fischer, Senior Researcher/Project Lead, Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO)
- Alicia Pringle – Subject Matter Expert: Literacy & Learning Innovation K-12, Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Armidale
- Catherine Molloy – Supervisor, Teaching and Learning, Sydney Catholic Schools
The Agenda is here.
Event Details
Date: Monday 18 March 2024
Time: Registration opens at 8.15am for
commencement at 8.45am – 4:00pm
Location: The Amora Hotel, Jamison Sydney
https://www.amorahotels.com/sydney/location
The venue is in Sydney CBD and close to Wynard Train Station, the Light Rail, buses or Secure Parking Stations.
Fee for event registration: $160.00
At this time, it is important to acknowledge the Commonwealth Government for the Non-Government Reform Support Funds that were made available to cover the costs of prior CSSA Symposiums. As of 2024, the CSSA has had to reintroduce a fee for registration to each CSSA Symposium. This fee charged is reflective of covering costs incurred to host the event.
NESA Accredited PD: In process – soon to be advised.
Registration: Registration is available via Eventbrite from Wednesday 31 January 2024. Tickets are limited, so remember to register early to avoid missing out.
Link to Eventbrite is found is here.
Open Thursday: Rural and Remote HSC Marking Program Applications??????? ???????(Ref: 41/24)
Applications for the Rural and Remote HSC Marking Program open this Thursday.
The HSC Rural and Remote Marking Program (RRMP) is a joint program run by the Department of Education (DoE), Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). The program is designed to give rural and remote teachers the opportunity to participate in marking the Higher School Certificate (HSC). Applications are open on Thursday, 7 March 2024 and must be submitted by 5.00 pm, Thursday, 21 March 2024 via this link.
Criteria for Selection
1. Total number of years teaching the course to Year 12 students – As a general guide, three years’ experience teaching the course at HSC level is regarded as a minimum requirement for appointment as an HSC marker.
2. Recent experience teaching the course to Year 12 students – Successful applicants must have recent (within the last 3 years) experience teaching the course and preference will be given to those teaching the course in the current year of marking.
3. Part-time and casual teachers – Applicants must provide details in relation to their teaching load (including the number of days/hours per week, teaching blocks).
4. Availability – RRMP applicants must be available to attend all briefing and marking sessions.
5. Conditions of Employment – The applicant must complete this section of the form for the application to be considered.
6. Approval from the principal – The principal is required to give approval to each applicant prior to the applicant submitting the application form. The applicant must seek approval from their principal to support the application so that they will release them from school to participate in the program.
7. Accessibility Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) – NESA will consider the ARIA ranking when assessing applications; however, applicants must also meet the criteria to be appointed.
Further information available from Dr Joanne Hack, Head, Curriculum & Assessment, P: (02) 9287 1558 Joanne.Hack@csnsw.catholic.edu.au
2024 NAP Opt-in Assessment in Science Literacy??????? (Ref: 54/24)
From 2024, Australian schools can enrol Year 6 and Year 10 students to take part in NAP Opt-in assessments in key curriculum areas at no cost to schools.
These new assessments are part of the National Assessment Program and are completely optional for schools. These new assessments will be phased in over 3 years, starting with Science Literacy in 2024.
Value to schools
Schools choosing to take part in the NAP Opt-in assessment in science literacy 2024 will be able to:
- Measure student performance against national standards in key curriculum areas beyond literacy and numeracy.
- Use the results (available only to the participating school) to review, plan and adapt teaching and learning programs.
- Run the assessments using the online platform at a time that suits them in the testing window. In 2024 this will run from Monday 6 May – Friday 31 May.
The assessments are run directly by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). There is no fee for schools registering to take part. Schools can register via the NAP Opt-in tile on www.assessform.edu.au from 26 March 2024.
Participating schools will be provided with 3 types of reports that can be used to inform teaching and learning.
Registration will be open to all schools across Australia for Year 6 and Year 10 students. Principals can register their school at https://www.assessform.edu.au by clicking on the ‘NAP Opt-in ’ tile on the home page.
Key dates
Tuesday 26 March 2024 – Tuesday 30 April 2024
School registration and enrolment window
Monday 6 May – Friday 31 May 2024
Test window
July 2024 – August 2024
Results window
More information: Download the 2024 Science Literacy opt-in FACTSHEET
Introduction to the Liberal Arts – Intellectual Retreat (Ref: 52/24)
The Introduction to the Liberal Arts Intellectual Retreat is for adults who would like to participate in talks on the liberal arts, focusing on theology and literature. All attendees will have the opportunity to delve into the core principles of the liberal arts through guided readings of timeless literary works, engaging panel discussions led by academics, and intimate small-group workshops. The retreat is crafted as an academic immersion, where participants actively engage with scholarly materials and lively discussions.
The event will be held at Campion College at Toongabbie in Western Sydney on April 12-14. For more details on costs and registration go to: https://www.campion.edu.au/event/intellectual-retreat/
Waterhouse Mediation Legal Seminars (Ref: 49/24)
Waterhouse Mediation is offering online seminars in March and April for primary and secondary principals focused on managing legal issues in schools. Topics covered include students and the law, defamation, GIPA, AI and information management. The seminars are presented by Michael Waterhouse, previously General Counsel for the NSW Department of Education for nearly 20 years.
View and register for the upcoming seminars here.
Executive Officer, Catholic School Parents Australia??????? (Ref: 50/24)
Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) is seeking a highly motivated Executive Officer for a part-time role (25 hours per week). CSPA is the peak national parent body for Catholic School Parents in Australia. CSPA is committed to representing and advocating on behalf of families with children in Catholic schools across the nation.
The Executive Officer will work collaboratively with the CSPA Chair to provide leadership by working strategically with:
• The Catholic School Parents Australia Council and its Executive Committee
• Senior Staff of the National Catholic Education Commission
• Commonwealth Department of Education
• Catholic Education school authorities
• Catholic School Parent bodies in each State & Territory
• Bishops Commission for Catholic Education
• Other National Parent Bodies
• Tertiary Education Providers
To effectively undertake this role, the Executive Officer will have a knowledge and understanding of:
• The Catholic Church
• Catholic Education
• The broad education environment at national level
• Commonwealth government structure and responsibilities
Scope of the Position
• Work with the CSPA Executive and Chair to provide a broad range of advice and responses on behalf of CSPA to:
? Government
? Political Parties
? Education systems and organisations
? State & Territory Catholic Parent organisations
• Deputise for the Chair or Executive Committee members as directed by the Chair and represent CSPA when required.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT COB FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Click here for the full job description and to apply.
NSW Education Showcase Vietnam 2024 (Ref: 59/24)
Study NSW invites education providers to participate in the NSW Education Showcase Vietnam 2024. The Education Showcase will take place from 9 to 14 September 2024 in Hanoi (9–11 September) and Ho Chi Minh City (12–14 September), and includes an education roundtable, an alumni event, and an education expo in both these cities.
Details of the NSW Government Education Showcase, including a tentative program, information on the participation fee and an expressions of interest form, are available here: https://www.study.nsw.gov.au/industry/international-network/nsw-education-showcase-vietnam-2024/
Australian Early Development Census Data Collection 2024 (Ref: 58/24)
The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) national data collection is scheduled for Term 2 2024 (1 May – 5 July 2024).
The AEDC collects data relating to five key areas of early childhood development that predict later health, wellbeing and academic success (including literacy and numeracy outcomes as measured by NAPLAN in Years 3, 5, and 7).
What schools need to do
AEDC data collection requires kindergarten teachers to complete a survey for all the children in their classroom. It takes approximately 20 minutes for teachers to complete the survey per child. The Australian Government pays for teacher relief during the collection period to enable Kindergarten
teachers to complete the data collection.
School leader pack and key dates
In Term 1, Week 7, each school will receive via mail the School Leader Pack. This pack contains all the information your school needs to help plan for the upcoming AEDC data collection.
For more information about key dates, refer to the AEDC 2024 calendar NSW.
Professional learning
Ahead of the AEDC data collection, schools are encouraged to undertake professional learning, such as unconscious bias training, to help them complete the survey.
Information drop-in sessions
AEDC NSW will run optional drop-in support sessions for you to ask our experts any questions about the AEDC. You can come at any time during the session, Sessions will run on the dates listed below. Meeting invitations/links will be distributed shortly.
Support
For technical or system support, contact AEDC National Helpdesk on 1800 092 548 or helpdesk@aedc.gov.au. For any other questions, contact Mary Taiwo, NSW AEDC State Coordinator on 02 7814 3083 or mary.taiwo@det.nsw.edu.au
Boosted Rebates for Schools to Visit Canberra??????? (Ref: 56/24)
The Federal Government has announced additional rebates are being extended for 2024 for schools and their students to visit Canberra as part of the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program.
The Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program provides financial assistance for students to visit Canberra and experience our national democratic, historical and cultural institutions first-hand.
Schools from outer regional, remote, or very remote areas and disadvantaged schools are eligible for additional rebates in 2024. Following a successful pilot in 2023, the additional rebates are being extended an extra year.
These additional rebates, for example, take the rebate amount for a student from a remote, disadvantaged school in New South Wales, 500-999 kilometres from Canberra, from $45 to $157.50.
The rebate will increase from $510 to $2,040 for a student from a very remote, disadvantaged school in the Northern Territory, 3,000 kilometres or more from Canberra. The additional funding will apply to all schools that travel to Canberra in 2024, including those that have already completed visits.
For more information, see www.pacer.org.au
Day for Daniel and Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson 2024 (Ref: 55/24)
Day for Daniel 2024: This year, the event, held on Friday, 25 October, endeavours to continue raising awareness of child safety, protection, and harm prevention. Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day, advocating for safer communities for children and empowering them to ‘Recognise, React, and Report’ when they feel unsafe.
Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson (ABCSL: Each year, the Foundation produces two lessons (lower primary ages 4-7 yrs and upper primary ages 8-12 yrs), which are livestreamed across the country in September during Child Protection Week. The engaging, evidence-based educational videos teach age-appropriate personal safety strategies.
In 2024, the overarching theme at the Foundation is consent with the focus on helping children understand enthusiastic consent. Our evidence-based resources are developed using focus groups of children, carers, educators and academics to align with Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, Health and Physical Education. By aligning with these education standards and providing comprehensive implementation toolkits, educators are confident to utilise our resources in classrooms around the country.
More than 2 million people participated in Day for Daniel in 2023, continuing to grow year on year. In 2023, over 7,200 schools and early learning centres registered their participation across Australia, along with hundreds of businesses and workplaces, including the Australian Federal Police. During the live stream event of ABCSL, over 500,000 students across Australia tuned in to watch our two lessons.
For more information and to register, click here.
Teacher English Language Proficiency Research Project (Ref: 51/24)
The Language Testing Research Centre at the University of Melbourne is looking to recruit teacher participants for a research study into teacher language proficiency. The study is designed to investigate whether the minimum standards on the English language tests that are currently used for the registration of overseas-trained teachers or locally-trained teachers who need to take an English language test are set appropriately. The findings of this study will help in making research-informed policy-decisions about teacher registration.
What will I be asked to do?
You will be asked to:
- Answer a short background questionnaire (5 minutes)
- Sign a confidentiality agreement (and email it to the researchers)
- Watch a short training video (13 minutes)
- Evaluate 5 writing and 5 speaking performances online (30-60 minutes)
- Complete a final questionnaire (5 minutes)
What will I receive for taking part?
After you have completed the tasks above, you will receive a certificate for two hours of professional learning.
Can anyone take part?
Any person currently teaching in Australia in early childhood, primary or secondary school can take part. We are looking for both Australian-born teachers and teachers who were born overseas to take part in the study.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please complete the following questionnaire:
https://tinyurl.com/teacherstandardsEOI
AISTL Teacher Survey (Ref: 46/24)
Teachers, educators, principals and school leaders are encouraged to assist the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as they explore the impact of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (standards) on teacher practice and on improving student outcomes. Participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback on how they use the standards in every day practice.
The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed here.
NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarship (Ref: 45/24)
Teachers in NSW are encouraged to apply for one or more of NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships. Recipients of the scholarships will be given an opportunity in the form of financial support and travel and learning opportunities to pursue best practice in their chosen focus area.
The scholarships provide $10,000 or $15,000 for a five-week study tour within Australia or abroad. Applications close 11:59 pm, Friday 3 May 2024.
Scholarships include the following and can be applied for through the links provided.
- Premier’s Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship
- Premier’s Creativity across the Curriculum Scholarship
- Premier’s Early Childhood Education Scholarship
- Premier’s Hicksons Lawyers STEM Scholarship
- Premier’s History Teachers’ Assocation History Scholarship
- Premier’s Inclusive Education Scholarship
- Premier’s NESA Quality Teaching Scholarship
- Premier’s Reserve bank of Australia Economics Scholarship
- Premier’s Teachers Mutual Bank Aboriginal Education Scholarship
- Premier’s University of NSW Rural and Remote Scholarship
- Premier’s University of Sydney Mathematics Scholarship
- Premier’s Vocational Education in Schools Scholarship
NSW Training Awards: Applications for 2024 Are Now Open??????? (Ref: 3/24)
Step up and be recognised with a NSW Training Award! The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services NSW to recognise outstanding achievements by individuals and organisations in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
Why get involved with the Awards?
As the premier awards for vocational education and training (VET) in NSW, the Awards are a great way to receive recognition for the effort that individuals, Employers and Registered Training Organisations put into VET.
For organisations, the Awards are the perfect platform to showcase the organisations’ commitment to VET. Entering the Awards raises the profile of the organisation and the awareness of the industry to the organisations’ dedication to skills for the workforce.
For individuals, the Awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate their achievements and hard work. Nominating an individual for an award can open many doors and potentially become a stepping stone in their careers.
Individual Award Categories relevant for schools:
- VET in Schools Student of the Year
- School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
- VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year
Organisation Awards:
- Industry Collaboration
- Large Employer of the Year
- Small Employer of the Year
- Large Training Provider of the Year
- Small Training Provider of the Year Awards
National Award categories: (previous successful school applications)
- Innovation in VET Award
- School Pathways to VET Award
Preparation
Give yourself plenty of time to complete your application. You can still make edits to your submitted application right up until the closing dates:
- Individual: 17 March 2024
- Organisations: 31 March 2024
Be sure to access the NSW Training Awards site for:
- Eligibility and selection criteria
- Submission tips and videos
- FAQs
- Interview preparation videos
Process
Students will be in the final year of their qualification, so generally, Year 12. Teachers/trainers can be relatively new or very experienced.
Winners progress through:
- Regional Training Awards
- Interviews: April; Awards: June
- NSW State Training Awards
- Interviews: July; Awards: 13 September
- Australian Training Awards
- Interviews: October; Awards: November
For an Organisational Award, check you’ve selected the most appropriate category.
Good luck!